West Chester again named a Tree City USA

WEST CHESTER — For the 24th consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation named West Chester a Tree City USA for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

In addition, the borough also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care.

The award was presented on Arbor Day last Friday in Hoopes Park.

“Everyone benefits when elected officials, volunteers and committed citizens in communities like West Chester make smart investments in urban forest,” said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees bring shade to our homes and beauty to our neighborhoods along with numerous economic, social and environmental benefits.”

The borough received the recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements of a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

According to the borough, in addition to these requirements the borough incorporates an aggressive tree-planting program. From 1989 to 2012, efforts from the program resulted in the planting of more than 3,300 trees.

One of the more recent trees planted in the borough is a peach tree at the West End Community Garden off Gay Street which was given to the borough by West Chester University for hosting a forum on happiness in honor of the international day of happiness celebrated in March.

“It’s really pretty fantastic and underscore the really what makes West Chester such a beautiful place,” said West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta.

According to Comitta a town hall event in 2006 identified environmental issues as the number one priority for the borough, though Comitta said receiving the award 24 years in a row indicates the borough has long been committed to these concerns.

“The trees are the embodiment of the environment in an urban area,” she said.

Among the borough’s boards and commissions is a shade tree commission which advises council and works with the borough’s urban forester to provide information and outreach as well as review development plans.

While residents can enjoy trees in the downtown, many trees can be found at one of the borough’s parks including Marshall Square Park which has more than 130 trees, 90 of which are unique.

Trees in the park have been fitted with identification tags providing the name and species of the trees.

The university celebrated last week as well after receiving its first Tree Campus USA Award, making it one of nine universities in the commonwealth to receive the distinction.